In the first instance, the ephors
announce in proclamation the limit of age to which the service applies for
cavalry and heavy infantry; and, in the next place, for the various artisans.
So that, even on campaign, the Spartans are well-supplied with all the
conveniences enjoyed by people living as citizens at Sparta. All the
implements and instruments whatsoever which an army may need in common are
ordered to be in readiness, some on wagons and others on baggage animals. In
this way anything omitted can hardly escape detection.

For the actual encounter under arms, the following
inventions are attributed to Lycurgos: the
soldier has a crimson-colored uniform and a heavy
shield of bronze; his theory being that such equipment has no sort of
feminine association, and is altogether most warrior-like. It is most quickly
burnished; it is least readily soiled. He further permitted those who were
about the age of early manhood to wear their hair
long. For so, he conceived, they would appear of larger stature, more
free and indomitable, and of a more terrible aspect. So furnished and
accoutered, he divided his hoplites into six morai[regiments] of cavalry and heavy infantry. Each of these hoplite morai has one polemarchos
[colonel], four lochagoi[captains],
eight penteconters [lieutenants], and
sixteen enomotarchs [sergeants]. At a word
of command any such morai can be formed
readily into either enomoties [single-file],
or into threes [three files of men abreast] or sixes [six files of men
abreast].

As to the idea, commonly entertained, that the tactical arrangement of the Spartan heavy infantry
is highly complicated, no conception could be more opposed to facts. For in
the Spartan order the front-rank-men are all leaders, so that each file
has everything necessary to play its part efficiently. In fact, this
disposition is so easy to understand that no one who can distinguish one
human being from another can fail to follow it. One set have the privilege of
leaders, the other the duty of followers. The evolutional orders by which
greater depth or shallowness is given to the battle line are given by word of
mouth, by the enomotarch, and they cannot be
mistaken. None of these maneuvers presents any difficulty whatsoever to the
understanding.

I will now speak of the mode
of encampment, sanctioned by the regulation of Lycurgos.
To avoid the waste incidental to the angles of the square, the encampment,
according to him, should be circular, except where there was the
security of a hill or fortification, or where they had a river in the rear.
He had sentinels posted during the day along the place of arms and facing
inwards; since they are appointed not so much for the sake of the enemy as to
keep an eye on friends. The enemy is sufficiently watched by mounted troopers
perched on various points commanding the widest prospects. To guard against
hostile approach by night, sentinel duty according to the ordinance was
performed by the sciritai outside the main
body. At the present time the rule is so far modified that the duty is
entrusted to foreigners, if there be a foreign contingent present, with a
leaven of Spartans to keep them company. The custom of always taking their
spears with them when they go their rounds must certainly be attributed to the
same cause which makes them exclude their slaves from a place of arms....The
need of precaution is the whole explanation. The frequency with which they
change their encampment is another point. It is done quite as much for the
sake of benefitting their friends as annoying their enemies.

Further, the law enjoins upon all Spartans, during the
whole period of the campaign, the constant
practice of gymnastic exercises, whereby their pride in themselves
is increased, and they appear freer and of a more liberal aspect than the
rest of the world. The walk and the running grounds must not exceed in length
the space covered by a morai, so that one
may not find himself far from his own stand of arms. After the gymnastic
exercises, the senior polemarchos gives the
order by herald to be seated. This serves all the purposes of inspection.
After this the order is given "To get breakfast," and for "The
outpost to be relieved." After this, again, come pastimes and
relaxations before the evening exercises, after which the herald's cry is
heard "To take the evening meal." When they have sung a hymn to the
gods to whom the offerings of happy omen have been performed, the final order
"Retire to rest at the place of arms," is
given.